Jules Koundé and Kylian Mbappé have met again during the French national team's training camp. They have had time to exchange impressions about their first season facing each other in LaLiga.
Since the Parisian forward landed at Real Madrid, he had assumed that the dominance of the white team would be total. However, the reality he has encountered in his first year in Spain has been very different from what he expected.
Mbappé has experienced firsthand a Barça that, far from being in decline, has been reborn strongly under Hansi Flick. He has privately acknowledged this to Koundé, surprised by the level of the blaugrana team and the impact of their young talents.
Mbappé and His Previous Experience Against Barça
Since his time at PSG, Kylian Mbappé had faced Barça on several occasions with quite favorable results for his team. His first great exhibition against the culés came in 2021, when he scored a hat-trick at Camp Nou in a Champions League match without an audience due to the pandemic. More recently, in 2024, he participated in Barça's elimination in the quarterfinals with a brace at Montjuïc, taking advantage of Ronald Araújo's expulsion.
These precedents made him think that, with his arrival at Real Madrid, the difference between the two giants of Spanish soccer would be even greater. However, upon facing Flick's team, his perception has completely changed.
"This Wasn't What I Expected"
When Mbappé signed for Real Madrid, many thought he would automatically become the absolute leader of the team and dominate both in Spain and Europe. But the season hasn't been as simple as he imagined.
According to Koundé during the training camp, Mbappé confessed his surprise at Barça's level and the difficulty of the Spanish league:
"This wasn't what I expected from Barcelona, they are a team in top form," the forward told the blaugrana defender.
The former PSG player expected a Barça in reconstruction, still weakened by their economic problems and unable to compete against Real Madrid. But what he has found is a young team, with a clear identity and players performing at the highest level.
Mbappé's Difficulties in His First Year in LaLiga
Mbappé was clear that his first goal was to win LaLiga and be the top scorer of the championship. However, he has encountered Robert Lewandowski who, at 36 years old, clearly leads him in the scoring table. Additionally, the French forward has been exposed in the Clásicos against Barça:
- In the 0-4 of LaLiga, he fell offside nine times, frustrated by the blaugrana defense.
- In the Spanish Super Cup, Barça won 5-2, showing a much superior level.
Individually, it's also not easy for him to win the Ballon d'Or. While at Real Madrid he hasn't been the absolute leader as many expected, at Barça several names have emerged that are stealing his spotlight. Raphinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo are having a spectacular season and have turned Flick's team into a serious contender for everything.
The Young Barça That Has Impressed Mbappé
What has most surprised the French forward is the number of young talents that have emerged from La Masia and the immediate impact they have had at the elite level. Mbappé already suffered in the Euro when Lamine Yamal eliminated him with Spain, and now he is seeing him shine at Barça alongside names like Cubarsí, Pedri, and Gavi.
In his first months in Spain, the Frenchman has received a dose of reality. The dominance of Madrid isn't as absolute as he expected, and Barça has been reborn with more strength than imagined in the capital. Mbappé has realized that the future of Spanish soccer doesn't belong solely to him, but in Barcelona, there is a new generation ready to challenge his reign.